Facebook rolling out new tool to help stop suicides

Starting this week, Facebook will begin rolling out a new option inside each post that lets users flag when a friend may be considering self harm.

In case you are the concerned party, you can click on the little arrow at the top right of a status and click “Report Post.”

When that person logs in next, Facebook will then offer options to contact the person concerned about them, enlist the help of another friend or put them in contact with a suicide helpline.

Facebook has teamed up with mental health organizations Forefront, Now Matters Now, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Save.org to make it easier for users to show their concern.

The feature will be available initially to those in the US and Facebook says it will complete the rollout within the next couple of months. It’s also vowed to improve its tools for users in other parts of the world.